Slider for sliding clasp fasteners



Oct. 2, 1956 E. SANDER SLIDER FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, l952 INVENTOR. Sunder BY f m Ernst ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1956 E. SANDER SLIDER FOR suumc CLASP FASTENERS 7 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. Ernst Sunder BY 4%; M

ATTORNEY E. SANDER SLIDER FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Oct. 2, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. Ernst Sunder BY Mg; m

ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1956 E. SANDER 2,

SLIDER FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS 7 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4;

INVENTOR. Ern-st Sunder Wm M ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1956 E. SANDER SLIDER FOR spmmc CLASP FASTENERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 INVENTOR.

Ernst Sunder- WfM ATTORNEY I Oct. 2, 1956 E. QANDER SLIDER F OR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed Oct. 15, 1952 7 Shee'ts-rSheet 6 INVENTOR. ErnsfSwnder BY 0% f. M

Oct. 2, 1956 E. SANDER 2,764,793

SLIDER FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed Oct. 15, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 53 3a 4a a! 37 ,HHH H INVENTOR. Ernst Sander IITTORNE Y United States Patent SLIDER FOR SLIDING, CLASP FASTENERS Ernst Sander, Milan, Italy, assignor to Giovanni Mastracchi-Manes, Milan, Italy' Application October 15, 1952, Serial No, 314,797 Claims priority, application Germany October 16 1951 '7 Claims. (Cl. 24201-) The invention relates to a slider for sliding clasp fasteners comprising two strips of resilient material and with inter-engageable headings of their cooperating edges, wherein the beading of the one strip is of a head-forming cross section and the beading of the other one of a tongslike cross sections, both being in a mutually clasping engagement when the fastener is closed.

The invention aims to provide a slider for the. operation, i. e. for closing and opening a fastener of the mentioned type. Another object is the provision of a slider for the indicated purpose, which is useful regardless whether or not the inter-engageable strips can be entirely separated from each other. i i

The invention further aims to provide a slider for the indicated purpose, which is self-locking without requiring additional resilient locking means as the conventional sliders of sliding clasp fasteners.

Further objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment thereof by way of example. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a slider according to the invention, a portion being broken away to show that part of the interior which serves to guide the strip with tongs-like beading,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same slider, another portion being broken away to show that part which serves to guide the strip with the head-forming beading,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, of the slider applied to a pair of fasteners strips,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slider of Fig. 4 applied to a pair of different fastener strips,

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of another. modification,

Fig. 7 is a cross-section along line 7.7 in Fig. 6 and Figs. 8 and 9 are cross-sections along lines 88 and 99, respectively, in Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawing, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the slider comprises two half-shells A and B of a substantially channel-shaped cross-section which is wider at the front end than at the rear end of the slider, that end being denoted as the front end which leads when closing the fastener. The difference in the width of the front and rear ends is selected in accordance with the angle at which the fastener strips are to be guided together for their connection. The, half-shells face each other 3 extends a distance towards the one side substantially in the plane of the slot 2. On the other side of the slider, projections 8 and 9 extend into the interior 5. These projections are formed and arranged symmetrical with respect to the plane of the slots 2 and 2' and are spaced from each other a distance similar to the width of the slots. They serve as guiding means as it will be explained hereinafter and have, for this purpose, guiding edges in the form of narrow faces 11 at right angles to the mentioned plane of the slots. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, these projections form lips or ribs which extend from the adjacent side wall portions of the shells. They start at the front ends and become progressively wider as they extend to the rear ends of the half shells. Their inwardly directed edges 11 are arcuately shaped. The bridge 1 may be extended forward of the half-shells and continued in a longitudinal reinforcing rib 13 on the top face of the half-shell A. Such reinforcement is advisable as the shell walls are preferably thin so that small weight and dimensions will be small. Rib 13 is provided with lateral grooves 14 into which projections 15" of a grip or actuating member 15 may engage so that the latter can be shifted along the grooves 14 to pull the slider in either direction.

The operation of the slider will now be explained with referenceto Fig. 3. In this figure,fastener strips 1'7 7 and 21 are visible, which are made of any suitable elastic with their. cavities, but are held by an inner. bridging substantially at right angles thereto, another wedge piece material. Strip 17 comprises the tape-like portion 17' and the tongs-forming beading 16 with jaws 18 and 19. The other strip 21 has a head 20 along the one edge of the tape-like portion 21. Both headings have mutually engageable undercut faces 24; and 25, respectively. On the left hand side of the drawing the heading 16 and 20 of the strips engage each other in the closed position. The adjacent portions of the strips are shown within the slider and extending therefrom. From the illustrated position of the strips in the slider it will be clear that the wedge piece 3 serves to guide the tongs-like beading 16 simultaneously to spread the jaws 18 and'19 apart while the tape-like portion 17' passes through and along the slot 2. On the other side of the bridge piece 1, the edges 11 of ribs 8 and 9 serve to engage and guide the undercut faces 24 of the head-shaped beading 20 of strip 21 of which the tape-like portion 21' is passed through the slot 2. The ribs 8 and 9 which are substantially parallel to the plane of the wedge piece 3, have the further purpose of holding the tongs-beading 16 open for the entry of the head-beading 20 in that the jaws 18 and 19 after having been spread apart by. the wedge piece 3 can slide the one on the upper surface 12 of rib 8 and the other one on the bottom face of rib 9.

In using the fastener, the free end of the tongs-like beading 16 of the strip 17 will be introduced through the front end of the slider into its interior 5 by pushing it on the wedge piece 3 so as to spread the jaws" 18, 19 apart. In order to facilitate the introduction of the strip 17, either when the slider is to be applied once and for all to the fastener strips or each time when the fastener on separable parts is to be closed, the front edges A, B of the half shells may be so cut back that the wedge piece 3 freely projects therefrom and is readily accessible. Simultaneously with the spreading of the jaws, the tapelil ce portion 17 will have entered the slot 2. When, then,' the slider is shifted relatively to the strip 17 in the forward direction, the spread jaws 1 8 and 19 will engage the upper and lower faces of the guide ribs 8 and so as to ride thereon. Simultaneously with the introduction of the beading 16 in the slide, the beading 2t), of the strip 21 may be introduced. into the, slide on the, other side of the bridge piece 1, and with its tape portion 21 in engagement with the slot; between the ribs 8 and 9, while the under-cut faces 24 are guided by the rib edges 11. The aforementioned wedge-shape of the bridge is so selected that both the strip beadings will be-inser-ted in the slide at an appropriate angle; This angle and the curvature of the edges 11 are so selected as clearly shown in Fig. 3, that the radius r of that curvature is appreciably smaller than the radius R of the curvature of the bend of the strip 21 where the edges 11 engage the undercut faces 24. In consequence, there will be merely a substantially point-wise contact between an edge 11 and the adjacent face 24. As the spread jaws 18 and 19 slide on the opposite surfaces of the ribs, the head-shaped beading will enter the interior of the open tongs. Where both headings leave the slider at its rear end and, where the tongs close owing to the elasticity of the material, the jaws 18, 19 will embrace the head 20, and owing to the engagement of the undercut faces 24, 25, the required resistance to an undesired opening will be attained. When, then, the slider is shifted forward one portion after the other of the strips will be connected.

For opening the'connected fastener strips, the slider will be shifted in the opposite direction. As in the closed position of the fastener, there is still an end portion of the tongs-like beading 16 in engagement with the ribs 8 and 9 and with the wedge 3, and similarly, there is still a portion of the head-like beading 20 guided between the bridge piece 1 on the one side, and rib edges 11. on the other side, a rearward movement of the slider will progressively open the tongs-like beading and simultaneously release the head beading from embrace.

The slide according to the invention is self-locking with respect to the strips 17 and 21, that'means it will stay in any adjusted position without moving on its own even if a force tends to pull the strips apart in a transverse direction. This is due to the fact that the jaws 18, 19 riding on the wedge 3 and the ribs 8 and 9 are spread apart by the parts of the slider against the elasticity of the strip material. In consequence, a force is set up which causes between the engaged slide surfaces and the jaws an increased friction, resisting an undesired shifting of the slider.

The slider may be made of metal or of an artificial or an organic material such as wood, bone or the like, by any suitable method, such as a die casting, stamping, bending, extrusion, or pressing method, either in one piece or in two halves.

In the modification of Figs. 4 and 5, the wedge piece 3 is provided with undercuts 4 which extend parallel to the free outer edge of the piece 3'. The undercuts are particularly well suited to guide the jaws of the tongs-shaped heading and to prevent the strip from being pulled laterally through the slot 2 of the slider. It will be clear that similar undercuts may be provided on the wedge piece 3 of Fig. 1.

The modification of Fig. 4 further differs from the embodiment hereinbefore described in that for the pur: pose of guiding the head-shaped beading other means are substituted for the ribs 8, 9. These means may consist of two interior projections of suitable shape, which extend from the opposite inner walls of the half shells so that their ends, substantially on the same level as the slots 2 and 2', are spaced from each other a distance similar to the width of the latter. In Fig. 4, the projections are in the form of coaxial cylindrical pieces or pins 6 and 7 spaced from each other at 10. The pins are located so close to the wedge 3 that they guide the head beading and urge it between the jaws of the tongsbeading substantially at the point where the jaws leave the wedge 3' by which they are spread apart. This modification which in all other respects is similar to the emmodiment of Fig. l, is useful not only for the type of strips illustrated in Fig. 3, but also for strips of the kind shown in Fig. 5. In this figure, the strip 117 is provided with the tongs-shaped beading 116 including the jaws 118 and 119 undercut at 125. The outer faces 126 of the jaws are inclined so that the cross section of a jaw is substantially triangular or dovetailed. The other strip 121 is provided with the head beading similar to the head beading 20. Between beading 120 and the tape-like portion 121 of the strip 121 there is an intermediate beading 122 connected with the headbeading by'a flat portion 123. The faces 127 which are adjacent the faces 126 of the tongs-beading are undercut and substantially parallel to the faces 126 so that the jaws 118 and 119 are clasped between the head 120 and the beading 122 in the closed position.

Now in order to apply the modified slider to the strips 117 andlZl, the end of the strip 117 will be introduced into the slider by pushing its beading on the wedge 3 in practically the same way as described with respect to strip 17. Thereby the jaws 118 and 119 will be spread apart. Thereupon, the strip 121 will be applied so that the pins 6 and 7 engage between the head 120 and the intermediate beading 122 'and that the portion 123 engages the space 10. If, then, the strip is pushed inward, the head beading 120 is guided between the bridge 1 and the pins to the point where the jaws 118 and 119 are spread apart in the rear of wedge 3 so that the head beading can enter between them into the interior of the tongs. Even if at that point, the jaws should not be spread fully according to the thickness of the head beading, the rounded face of the latter will enforce its entrance if the strip 121 is pushed in. Simultaneously, with the head beading entering between the jaws, the pins 6 and 7 will have spread the beading 120 and 122 apart so that the dove-tailed jaws can enter therebetween. Closing and opening of the fastener will then' be aceornplished in the manner hereinbefore described.

If the two strips of the fastener of Fig. 3 or 5 are intended to be inseparable, it is advisable first to apply the slider of Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 to the ends of both strips and, then to secure these ends to each other. If the strips are to stay separable, the slider may first be applied to the tongs-shaped beading, whereupon that end of the heading may be permanently closed which projects from the rear of the slider. Thus a loss of the slider will be prevented. The head-shaped beading may then be inserted into the slider and withdrawn therefrom as desired.

The slider according to Fig. 4 can be improved in order to reduce friction and thereby to facilitate the introduction of the head beading 120 in the tongs beading 116 of a pair of fastener strips of the kind shown in Fig. 5 and denoted by 117 and 121. In the improved slider illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 the half shells 30 and 31 are connected by the bridging piece 32 of wedge-shaped crosssection, and the short flanges 33, 34 as well as the flanges 33 and 34 of the half shells spaced at 35 a distance according to the thickness of the tape-like strip portions 117 and 121' shown in Fig. 5. Another wedge-like portion 36 projects from the bridging part 32 into the passage between the latter and the flanges 33, 34 for the same purpose as the wedge 3' of Figs. 4 and 5. Into the passage between the other side of the bridging part 32 and flanges 33 and 34 projections 37 and 38 extend from the inside of the shells towards each other similarly to the pins'6 and 7 in Fig. 4 and face each other with parallel lips 39 and 4t) spaced at 41 substantially the same distance as that at 35. The edges 42 of the lips on the side of the flanges 33' and 34' are formed similarly to the edges 11. of the ribs 8 and 9 in Figs. 1 and 2 and are destined to'guide the beading head 120 until it has completely entered the coordinate tongs-beading. The width of the lips is preferably so selected that they will hold the jaws 118, 119 of the tongs beading open. The sides 43 of the projections 38 and 39 adjacent the flanges 33 and 34 are preferably curved so as gradually to spread the ends of the intermediate beading 122 in Fig. 5 for the reception of the jaws of the tongs-beading. The operation and the actionof a slider according to Figs. 6

to 9 on fastener strips of the type of strips 117, 121 in Fig, 5 is very similar to that described with respect to that figure, and does not reqiire additional explanation. It will also be clear that the slider according to Figs. 6 to 9 is likewise applicable to fastener strips as shown in Fig. 3 and denoted by 17 and 21.

Instead of the wedge piece 3 for guiding the tongsshaped beading of the one strip, parallel inner ribs extending from slot 2' may be provided similarly to the ribs 8, 9 for the head-shaped beading of the other strip. In this event, both slots 2 and 2' are provided between pairs of inwardly directed guide ribs the length and shape of which will be selected according to the angle at which the headings are to be guided together.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alterations and modifications of the structure illustrated and described are possible without departing from the essence and spirit of the invention which, for that reason, shall not be limited but by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slider for connecting and disconnecting two elastic strips of a sliding clasp fastener wherein each strip consists of a tape-like portion and a heading along one edge of said tape-like portion and the beading includes a headshaped edge portion and an intermediate beading portion with dove tailed grooves between said head and said intermediate portion, and the other beading being tongsshaped to clasp said head beading and engage said grooves when the fastener is closed, comprising a hollow body including two half-shells having flanged portions, the flanges of said shells facing each other so as to form lateral slots communicating with the interior of said body, a bridge piece of wedge shaped cross-section connecting said half-shells near the front end of said slider so as to form with said flanges a passage on either side of said bridge for said strips respectively, a substantially wedge-shaped piece projecting into said first passage from the side of said bridge piece a distance towards and substantially in the plane of the adjacent slot so as to guide said tongs-beading and to spread the jaws of the tongs apart, a pair of projections within said other passage and extending from the opposite shells towards each other, each projection including a guiding lip at its free end, said guiding lips being parallel to and spaced from each other and edges of said lips being adapted to engage said head-shaped heading.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1, the faces of said projections on the sides of the adjacent shell flanges constituting guides for said intermediate beading portion and being curved so as gradually to spread the ends of said portion apart.

3. A slider for connecting and disconnecting two strips of a sliding clasp fastener wherein each strip consists of a tape-like portion and a heading along one edge of said tape-like portion, and the one beading being head-shaped and the other one being tongs-shaped so as to clasp the head beading when the fastener is closed, comprising a hollow body including two half shells of substantially channel-shaped cross-section forming the body walls and being spaced from each other so as to form longitudinal lateral slots communicating with the interior of said body, said half shell channels being wider at the front end than at the rear end of said body, a bridge piece of wedge-shaped cross-section connecting said half shells near the front end substantially in a longitudinal plane at right angles to the plane of said slots so as to form passages between said bridge piece and the side walls of said body, the first one of said passages being adapted to receive said tongs-beading therein, said other passage being adapted to receive said head beading therein, and both passages being inclined with respect to each other according to the angle at which said strips are to be introduced into said body with their tape portions passing through said slots, respectively, a wedge-shaped piece projecting intosaid. first passage from. the side of said bridge piece a distance towards and substantially in the plane of the adjacent slot so as to guide said tongs beading and to spread the jaws of the tongs apart, and symmetrical guiding means for said head beading consisting of two similar round pins extending into said second passage from the walls of said body, respectively, which constitute the webs of said half shell channels, said pins being spaced from each other substantially in the plane of said slots a distance substantially equal to the width of .the latter, and being adapted to engage the rear of said head beading.

4. A slider for connecting and disconnecting two elastic strips of a sliding clasp fastener wherein each strip consists of a tape-like portion and a heading along one edge of said tape-like portion, the one beading being a head beading and the other beading being tongs-shaped so as to clasp said head beading when the fastener is closed, comprising a hollow body including two half shells having lateral flange-like portions, said portions facing each other so as to form lateral slots communicating with the interior of said body, a bridge piece of wedge shaped cro s-seotion connecting said half shells near the front end of said slider so as to form with said flanges a passage on either side of said bridge for said strips, respectively, a substantially wedge-shaped piece projecting into said first passage from the side of said bridge piece a distance towards and substantially in the plane of the adjacent slot so as to guide said tongs beading and to spread the jaws of the tongs apart, said passages being of a size and shape so as to permit said beadings to bend freely for their interengagement between said piece and the rear end of said body, a pair of projections between said second passage and the adjacent lateral wall portions and extending into the interior of said body from similarly located wall portions of said shells, respectively, said projections being symmetrically shaped with respect to the plane of said slots and having each a first and a second surface, said first surfaces facing each other and being spaced a distance substantially equal to the width of said slots, said second surfaces being arcuate and at right angles to said plane and adapted to engage and guide said head beading from the rear thereof, the radius of curvature of said second surfaces where adapted to engage said head beading being smaller than that of the curvature of said bending of said head beading so as to ensure substantially point-wise contact of said curvatures and, except for said contact, complete freedom for said head heading to bend inside the body portion where said headings interlock.

5. A slider as in claim 3, said pins being formed upon and extending inwardly from opposite walls of the body in substantial parallelism with said bridging piece, said pins being spaced apart for extension of the head-beading provided tape portion therebetween, and being adapted for engaging the back surface of the head heading to guide the head beading along a path in which it will be wholly out of contact with said side walls.

6. A slider as claimed in claim 4, said projections comprising lips extending from the side-wall adjacent the passage for said head beading and on both sides, respectively, of said slot, said lips being arranged exteriorly of the space where said headings interlock when passing through said slider, the edges of said lips constituting said second surfaces and being adapted to engage and guide said head beading tangentially at the rear side thereof, said lips being also adapted to receive thereon and to hold open said spread prongs of said tongs beading.

7. A slider as claimed in claim 4-, said projections having third surfaces opposite said first surfaces, said third surfaces being adapted to receive thereon and to hold open the prongs of said tongs beading spread apart by said wedge piece, said wedge piece having a thickness and said surfaces being spaced from each other a distance similar to the thickness of said head beading.

(References on following page) 7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sundback Dec. 16, 1930 Sundback Sept. 7, 1937 5 Quisling Mar. 22, 1938 Poux Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Mar. 1, 1939 Italy Mar. 24, 1950 Great Britain June 24, 1940 Germany Oct. 29, 1931 

